Trump weighs action against Houthis after Riyadh airport attack

The recent attacks on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh have drawn international condemnation. Foreign policy expert Harley Lippman is looking into potential U.S. military responses and what it might mean for Saudi Arabia’s retaliatory strikes against the Houthi forces.

Iran-backed Houthi militants carried out a series of attacks on various Saudi Arabian airports this past Sunday, leading to the deaths of at least 14 individuals, one of whom was an American citizen, while injuring over 300 others.

These incidents have escalated concerns about a broader conflict in the Middle East, as experts warn about a “cross-domain escalation” amidst increased tensions following U.S. actions against Iran’s aviation sector in September.

The Houthis have taken responsibility for earlier assaults on the Riyadh airport, and U.S. officials have attributed Saturday’s strike—resulting in 13 fatalities and numerous injuries—to the Iran-aligned group.

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Saudi Arabia’s civil aviation authority reported yet another attack on Sunday that killed a Pakistani resident and injured 11 others, with another airport in Dammam also being targeted by the Houthis.

“Cross-domain escalation by Iran and its proxies will continue to be a primary strategy,” mentioned Behnam Ben Taleblu, a senior director in the Iran Program and a fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

He added that these attacks, particularly on aviation targets, are linked directly to the sanctions imposed on Iran’s commercial airlines and the broader U.S. maximum pressure campaign.

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On Sunday, the Houthis reiterated their warnings, advising airlines, airport staff, and travelers to avoid Saudi airports, as the kingdom vowed to retaliate for the recent fatalities.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio condemned the attacks, noting an American casualty and calling for an immediate cessation of violence.

President Donald Trump has indicated that U.S. involvement in Saudi Arabia’s military response against the Houthis could be on the table, saying, “We may. We’re gonna look at it. We move very quickly.”

The situation escalates just weeks after a senior Iranian official threatened to disrupt airports in neighboring countries if they sided with U.S. initiatives to restrict Iranian flights.

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Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, cautioned on September 23 that Iran would hinder the operations of neighboring countries’ airports if they cooperate with U.S. efforts aimed at restricting flights.

Taleblu reflected that the rapid escalation of attacks suggests earlier threats from Iranian officials, linking U.S. sanctions on Iran’s aviation with the retaliation directed at neighboring countries’ airport infrastructures.

While Iran has long been an ally of the Houthis, the details of Tehran’s involvement in the recent airport assaults remain unclear.

This uptick in hostilities has revived concerns regarding Russia’s alleged provision of intelligence and technical support to the Houthis.

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During a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing on September 1, lawmakers examined allegations of Russian support for the Houthis, with claims of satellite collaboration and intelligence-targeting assistance surfacing.

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However, experts believe the latest Houthi attacks are part of a wider military escalation strategy, as the group secures more territory in Yemen.

Taleblu concluded, stating that “this surge did not occur in a vacuum,” noting the Houthis’ advancements against Saudi forces amid a diplomatic lull.

He also mentioned that these airport assaults enable Iran and its proxies to inflict damage on Arab states, Israel, and the remaining U.S. military presence in the region.